King George Square, Brisbane, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

King George Square is the main civic square of Brisbane, Australia, set directly in front of Brisbane City Hall in the heart of the CBD. It is named after King George V and works as the city's open-air meeting place, with the clock tower of City Hall rising above it. It is a natural starting point for walking the centre of Brisbane.

The story behind it

The square takes its name from King George V and sits beside Brisbane City Hall, which opened in 1930 and has been the symbol of civic Brisbane ever since. The square has long been where the city gathers, whether for public events, markets or simply a lunch break between office towers. Beneath it runs a busway station, so thousands of people pass through the ground under your feet every day.

The square has been reshaped over the years, and the modern glass of Brisbane Square on one side now faces the older stone of City Hall on the other. That contrast of old and new is the quickest way to read how the city has grown around this one open space.

What to look for

• The City Hall clock tower rises above the square and is the best landmark for finding your bearings in the CBD.
• The columned entrance of City Hall faces the square, and above it a sculpted pediment tells part of the story of early Brisbane.
• The glass and steel of Brisbane Square sit opposite the heritage facade, so the old and new city fit into a single photograph.
• The open paved space itself is worth a look, since it is usually busy with people crossing between the bus station, Adelaide Street and the shopping streets.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 15 to 20 minutes for the square and the City Hall facade, longer if you go inside the building. Check current opening hours and what is on.
• Morning light on the City Hall frontage is good for photographs, and the square is calmer outside weekday lunchtimes.
• Queen Street Mall, Post Office Square and the Brisbane River are all an easy walk away, so the square works well as the first stop of a longer wander.
• The square is open to the public and has no entry gate. Facilities and events change, so check what is on before you go.

See it on a quest

The Oz Escape in Brisbane passes King George Square, so you reach it on foot as one stop on a longer route through the city. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in CBD, Brisbane also takes in the square, turning a walk through the central streets into a case to solve. You get the story of each stop as you get there and solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

Colonial Brisbane: A Convict's Quest for Justice links the square to the early history of the city, as one stop on a self-guided route. The app explains each place as you reach it and sets a puzzle in the scene around you. One ticket covers the whole group.